Write on, readers

Published Wednesday January 2, 2013 at 6:00 am

Each year, hundreds of Telegram & Gazette readers gently defy the conventions of the computer age by picking up pen and paper, or sitting at their computer, composing a letter, and sending it to The People’s Forum for consideration by editors and other readers.

In so doing, they are communicating in one of the most efficient and direct ways possible with hundreds of thousands of their fellow citizens throughout Central Massachusetts.

The traditional letter to the editor, whether on a topic great or small, one that affects one’s hometown, the state, the nation, or the world, remains one of the cornerstones of democracy. And we consider the efforts of our letter writers to be among the most important and vital functions of this newspaper, one that has remained constant through decades of changes to our industry and society.

We are pleased to maintain The People’s Forum as a place for diverse and lively opinions, and consider it little short of a sacred duty.

During 2012, the Telegram & Gazette published 1,334 letters.

We believe that the letters to the editor are among the most accurate gauges of the viewpoints of the residents of Central Massachusetts. Today we list the names of all those who took the time to write to us in 2012. Also appearing today is a list of those who authored “As I See It” op-ed pieces in 2012.

The Telegram & Gazette publishes the vast majority of letters submitted to us, provided we can confirm authorship, and that a letter meets our guidelines.

We do not block letters from publication for ideological reasons; indeed, we feel a special obligation to print comments made in response to our editorials and news coverage. We invite constructive criticism and observations.

Without exception, letters on general topics cannot be longer than 250 words. As explained below, political letters cannot exceed 100 words. We limit individuals to one published letter every eight weeks. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and in keeping with good taste.

Letters must be original, and quotations from other material should be clearly attributed to their sources. As a general rule, we do not publish reprints, extended quotations, open letters, letters written for publication in multiple newspapers, or letters that have previously appeared elsewhere, whether in print or online. In short, we aim to publish letters that are original, local, and exclusive to the Telegram & Gazette.

We publish a limited number of letters from outside our circulation area, usually ones that pertain directly to our news coverage or editorials, or from authors with local ties, many of whom are regular contributors to The People’s Forum.

Letters should be of general public interest. We do not publish letters that are strictly personal, about damaged or missing property or pets, consumer complaints, or letters dealing solely with personal religious beliefs.

Political endorsements and letters concerning municipal, state or national elections must not exceed 100 words, and should be received at least 10 working days before the election.

It is best to send endorsement letters as early as possible, and individually authored letters in support of a candidate are given priority over form letters and those orchestrated by a political campaign. All endorsement letters must be signed by the authors themselves. We do not publish letters of any kind submitted by proxy or on someone’s behalf.

We do not publish letters written in verse or essay form.

We do not publish letters that we believe come under the libel laws. Material may be libelous if it holds a private person or organization up to hatred, contempt, suspicion or wrongdoing, scorn or ridicule. We review letters about active court cases carefully.

We do not publish hate mail or letters that are obviously offensive to good taste.

We do not publish anonymous letters, those whose authorship cannot be determined or confirmed, or those that are illegible or incomprehensible.

Class project letters should be submitted as a group with a cover letter listing school, teacher and grades of students involved. We will normally select and publish one letter per school.

All letters, however submitted, should include the writer’s full name, a complete home and mailing address, and a signature, or, in the case of email, a phone number for verification of authorship.

These guidelines have been developed so as to provide as many writers as possible the opportunity to present their thoughts in The People’s Forum.